ALZHEIMERS DISEASE

PracticumVictoria
Business
Martinez,

7th

Capstone Project

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Alzheimers disease has effected more than five million individuals

throughout the United States, three hundred and forty thousand of whom live
in Texas. Alzheimer's disease is a strong progressive and irrevocable brain
disorder that is described as a decline in cognition. The behavioral and
physical abilities severe enough to interfere with everyday life, such as how
to get home, where you are and other factors that could cause chaos
throughout ones life that is battling with Alzheimers disease. Full time care
is a necessity to the diagnosis of Alzheimers. Symptoms may not continually
be equivalent to others; they vary on how far into Alzheimers the patient
has progressed. Although, all patients diagnosed with Alzheimers disease
experience memory loss and confusion. As Alzheimers disease progresses
throughout a patient, they seem to become very frustrated with the outcome
of things. Such as their strength, balance, bladder control, and memory.
As Alzheimers disease progresses the cortex located in your brain
shrivels up and damages areas that retain you from thinking more precisely.
The ventricles filled with cerebrospinal where the fluid grows larger and
larger as it progresses. The hippocampus is in the storage of long-term
memory, which holds all past knowledge and experiences. The more the
disease affects the brain, the basic life functions such as breathing and
swallowing are damaged and the results become fatal.
Alzheimers disease does not only effect the elderly but also mid-age
adults. Ages range from thirty to eighty-four. Although, the percentages for
adults seventy-five years or older are more likely to obtain this disease, it

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may be hereditary. There are two types of Alzheimers disease Familial

Alzheimers disease (FAD) which is occasionally inherited. The second time of
disease is sporadic where it does not contain any obvious pattern.
Approximately 5% of Alzheimers disease is (FAD) and 95% is sporadic.
Our body changes many ways as we progress through life, as does the
brain. The brain contains as many as 100 billion neurons. The never cells
connect with other cells to create communication form. When this is
damaged, it becomes very difficult to communicate. The group of nerve cells
obtain supplies, generate energy, make equipment and get rid of excess.
Scientists believe that Alzheimer's disease inhibits parts of a cell from
running efficiently. Although, the source of the problem is yet to be found. As
one section of the cells factory fails another fails and so on. The body starts
to forget or shut down the key essentials to life. As the damage of
Alzheimers disease spreads, the cells fail to their ability to do their job,
which leads the cells to die off, causing permanent damage to the brain.
The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease worsen over time. Although the
rate of the disease spreading varies on the patient.

According to the

Alzheimers Disease Association a person with Alzheimer's lives four to eight

years after being diagnosed; yet can live as long as 20 years. The changes
and impact circulating in the brain relating to Alzheimer's disease begins
long before any sign that there is a problem. The period in time in which this
could last up to four years is referred as the preclinical Alzheimers disease.
The biomarker evidence could diagnose preclinical Alzheimers disease. The

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distribution of the neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic plaques has been

discovered in several areas of the neocortex throughout the brains affected
by Alzheimer disease.
Throughout the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, a person may
function independently. They are still able to work, socialize and drive.
Although, they might feel like they are forgetting words, objects and people
at times. Similar difficulties that early stage patients experience is being very
forgetful in the work environment or where they are. This becomes very
upsetting and frustrating to ones experiencing it.
The moderate Alzheimer's disease stage is the longest stage out of all
three it lasts for multiple years. Throughout this stage, the patient must
require a great deal of care. The person with Alzheimers may react in
unusual ways. They become angry due to their unawareness of their
situation, why they do not remember certain things. The refusal begins
throughout this stage the refusal to bathe and cooperate. The damage to
neurons in the brain make it difficult to communicate thoroughly. Family
members and friends will notice the odd change in their loved ones at this
point through the stage.

Forgetfulness begins with events or about one's

own personal history. The uncontrollable bladder problems they start to

have. Being unaware of their own address or number. Nights become very
restless and changes in sleep occurs often. Misunderstanding of where they
are or how they got there. With being unaware of where they are at times,
getting lost is very easy and happens often.

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Throughout the final stage of this disease, patients begin to be

unresponsive and unaware to their environment. The misunderstandings of a
conversation and the inability to control their movements. One whom is
diagnosed with Alzheimers disease may communicate although; it may be
difficult to recall words. This stage patient require full time care. Their
inability to cooperate through many things put them at risk for different
factors. The patients are unaware of their surroundings and who people are.
Their minds are not as sharp as they once at were. Throughout Victorias
interview with Rachel Talbert the last question, she asked was Are you
aware of who I am, do you remember seeing me this morning? Rachels
response was Yes, up in the church, you were up in the foyer where I could
see you and be near you. Although, Victoria was not at church, she was
setting up an activity for Rachel and the other residents. This is an example
of the short-term memory that was lost that morning.

It is difficult

explaining the situation to whom is battling with Alzheimers disease, so a

cooperative and patient person is best to care after them. Patients are likely
to experience the change in simple task such as walking, sitting, reaching
and eventually the incapability of swallowing.
As their immune system weakens, they are more vulnerable to
infections. Oral hygiene minimizes the risk of bacteria in the mouth that can
lead to pneumonia. The flu could lead to pneumonia. Pneumonia is an
infection that inflames air sacs in one or both lungs and could possibly fill
with fluids. Flu vaccines will reduce the harmful risk.

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Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease. However, non-drug

and drug treatments are available and may help with both cognitive and
behavioral symptoms. If non-drug approaches fail consistently, medications
may be suitable when patients have severe symptoms or have the possibility
to harm themselves or others. Medications could be effective throughout
some situations however; they must be used cautiously. When referring to
medication as a solution it is best, to begin with low doses of a single drug
and include non-drug treatments as well for a healthier outcome. Depending
on the efficiency of the drug treatment, it might relieve the symptoms that
were not targeted to relieve. Individuals with dementia are prone to serious
side effects. These include depression, stroke or death. There are multiple
risk being taken when providing an individual with medication, the symptoms
may vary from person to person.
Preserving memory from an individual who is diagnosed with
Alzheimers is common. The memories of your loved one being there at your
wedding, when you grew up into the person she wished youd always be, you
would want your mother to cherish that memory. Old photos, scrapbooks,
videos, are all possible belongings that could preserve the memory left.
Alzheimer's disease does not affect all memory capacities equally. Short-term
memory, which holds a small amount of information in an active available
state, is lost first. Secondly, episodic memory is lost which holds
autobiographical events, who, what, where, why. Thirdly, semantic memory
which is the meanings of words and memory that is accumulated throughout

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our lives such as facts. Lastly, procedural memory, which is how to walk,
talk, what your name is lost. As the disease spreads, certain parts of memory
that were formerly undamaged also become impaired, and eventually all
intellectual knowledge, attention, and language capabilities are disrupted.
Can Alzheimers disease be prevented? Through extensive research
that question has yet to be answered. Although, there are many activities to
keep individuals mentally active. Habits that could help better your life style
is dieting, nutrition, mental activities, and excellent physical health. All of
these taken into consideration could keep your mind and body healthy. The
combination of excellent health, social, mental and physical activities will
have a greater chance on maintaining the brain. For example, Victoria has
received an excellent opportunity to intern at Holly Hall Christian Retirement
Home where staff and residents welcomed her warmly. Victoria is in charge
of helping create activities made for the residents in health care, assisted
living and occasionally independent living. As so, she visits residents from
time to time to have conversations with them, see how they are doing, if
they need help with anything, and do individual activities.
The technique Victoria does to keep data of the residents is asking
them if they recall any memories that happened earlier that day or earlier
throughout their early life. Victoria met with two individuals each Friday she
volunteers at Holly Hall Retirement Home. One resident with early stage
Alzheimers disease and the other with final stage of Alzheimers disease. As
meeting with them, she asks a variety of questions to test the brain. One

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important question that will always be asked throughout an interview is. Do

you know who I am? If so could you state my name? Through the data
collected from Victoria, the early stage patient recognized her; although
could not recall her name. From taking the same question and asking the
patient with the late stage Alzheimers disease her response to Victoria was,
I dont know hunny, if I did or not, where were you? Earlier that day
Victoria had a conversation with her located in the activities room and served
her cookies and coffee. In addition, Victoria meets with residents individually
and participate in trivia games, reading books, and taking walks. These
activities tie into creating the brain cells and their connections stronger.
There is a possibility of creating new brain cells from the activities that
help to generate or preserve them. The low level of education throughout an
individuals life span has been found to correspond to the probable risk of
Alzheimers disease. As for someone with a high level of education the brain
has created many cells that come together to create a stronger and healthier
mind. Although, this does not necessarily mean high-educated individuals
will not obtain Alzheimers disease yet symptoms may appear further in.
Alzheimer's disease kills more than 700,000 people per year. This is
the seventh-leading cause of death in the country. Not only does the death
rate impact society but also the cost for healthcare with individuals battling
with Alzheimers disease. The payments for health care reached two-hundred
and twenty-six billion dollars as of two-thousand and fifteen. If there is, no
research and new studies found by mid-century more than six-teen million

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individuals

with

be

diagnosed

with

Alzheimers

disease.

The

many

unanswered questions has left thousands of individuals hopeless. There is

only an extensive amount of time left for someone who is diagnosed with
Alzheimers disease. The future will come to a high extensive cost of medical
care due to the majority of elderly diagnosed with Alzheimers disease.
Nursing homes will increase by the size, overworking caregivers, and an
overwhelmed healthcare throughout the United States as Alzheimers
disease progresses. As death rates decline for major diseases such as cancer
and HIV, Alzheimers disease death rates have risen up to forty-six point one
percent.
Victoria has been able to participate up close with the individuals
diagnosed with Alzheimers disease at Holly Hall Christian Retirement Home.
The most visible unawareness that the patients show is where they are. As
Victoria speaks to patients they always seem to mention where there family
is, that they will be going on vacations with their family or will soon leave to
go to do an errand. The little memory they contain is their long-term
memory, what life experiences happened before things became unclear. The
memories they hold onto may not but much but mean a great deal to them.
As dealing with an Alzheimers disease patients, it is best not to argue with
them. They may mention that their spouse will be coming soon, when in fact
they passed away years before. It is best to simply agree, creating the
patient angry will cause them to lose focus on the memory left. Alzheimers
is a life threatening disease that causes pain and sorrow seeing your loved

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one going through it or yourself. Having family around to help preserve any
memory is excellent. No one wants to go through an awful battle of
Alzheimers disease alone.
Work cited:
1. "Stages of Alzheimer's & Symptoms | Alzheimer's Association."
Stages of Alzheimer's
& Symptoms | Alzheimer's Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec.
2015.
2. Sperling, Reisa A. "Preclinical Alzheimers Disease." Comprehensive
Principles and
Practices Dementia (2014): 448-58. Web.
3. "Anatomical Correlates of the Distribution of the Pathological Changes in
the Neocortex in
Alzheimer Disease." Anatomical Correlates of the Distribution of the
Pathological Changes in the Neocortex in Alzheimer Disease. N.p., n.d.
Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
4. "Pneumonia." Healthline. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
5. "Behavioral Symptoms | Alzheimer's Association." Behavioral Symptoms |
Alzheimer's
Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
6. "Late-Stage Caregiving | Caregiver Center | Alzheimer's Association."
Alzheimer's
Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
7. "Preserving Memories for the Alzheimer's Patient." Galloway Ridge at
Fearrington
Village. N.p., 11 May 2015. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
8. "Alzheimer's Disease - Memory Disorders - The Human Memory."
Alzheimer's Disease

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Memory Disorders - The Human Memory. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
9. "Episodic Memory and Semantic Memory - Types of Memory - The Human
Memory."
Episodic Memory and Semantic Memory - Types of Memory - The
Human Memory. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
10.
11.

"Short Term Memory | Simply Psychology." Short Term Memory | Simply

Psychology. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
"Alzheimer's & Dementia Prevention and Risk | Research Center |

Alzheimer's
Association." Alzheimer's Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015.
12. Talbert, Rachel. "Alzheimer's Disease." Personal interview. 4 Dec. 2015.
13. Williams, Betty. "Alzheimer's Disease." Personal interview. 4 Dec. 2015.
14. Dothager, Imogene. "Alzheimer's Disease." Personal interview. 4 Dec.
2015.
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Outline:
Introduction Development of Question
Research Methodologies
Sources of Information and Collection of Data
Analysis and Interpretation of Data
Multiple Perspectives
Ethics / Unanswered Questions
Self-analysis